Michelle Bestul, left, plays Marmee and Sarah Klauck plays Jo March in the Sheboygan Theatre Company's production of 'Little Women: The Musical,' which opens Friday.

The Sheboygan Theatre Company will be spotlighting the importance of family and following dreams in difficult times when it presents "Little Women: The Musical," based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel.

Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 2, at the Leslie W. Johnson Theatre, 2820 Union Ave., Sheboygan.

"Little Women: The Musical," which was adapted from the novel, was created by Allan Knee, Mindi Dickstein and Jason Howland in 2005. It is directed and choreographed by Warren S. Friedman, who returned to Sheboygan after last year's showing of "White Christmas."

The show's 10-piece orchestra is led by music director and conductor Ray Rhoads.

When Alcott wrote and published "Little Women" in 1868 it was a semi-autobiographical retelling of her life story growing up in Civil War America. The lead female protagonist, Jo March, is modeled after Alcott, while the other three March sisters are all modeled after her real-life sisters.

The musical takes place in Massachusetts between Christmas 1863 and spring 1866.

Jo March, played by Sarah Klauck, is a head strong, fledgling writer. She tends not to think before doing or saying anything and she won't let being a woman stand in her way of making her dreams come true, much to the chagrin of her grouchy, old-fashioned Aunt March, played by Deb Schlehlein.

The musical takes the audience on Jo's journey from a young adult, thinking she has all the answers, to a strong woman knowing life can take you in many different directions.

The three sisters are: Meg, the oldest; Beth, the second youngest; and Amy, the youngest.

Meg, the lovelorn sister, is played by Jamie Jeanty, a newcomer to the Sheboygan Theatre Company stage. Tiffany Tillmann plays the sweet and docile Beth. Ashley Turnquist plays Amy, who transforms from a bratty little sister to a sophisticated lady.

The sisters are held together by their hard-working, strong mother, lovingly called Marmee, played by Michelle Bestul.

The cast also includes four men. Kyle T. Schwanke plays Theodore "Laurie" Laurence III, the neighbor who is drawn to the March family's closeness. Tim Fehling plays his tutor, John Brooke, who finds love with one of the sisters. Laurie's hard-nosed grandfather, who is softened by the March family, is played by Jim Wucherer. And Kirt Graves portrays Professor Bhaer, who befriends and challenges Jo after she leaves home.

Admission is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors age 60 and older, and $10 for students through college.

Tickets are available online at www.sheboygantheatercompany.com; at the Sheboygan Theatre Company office in the Community Recreation Department, 607 S. Water St., Sheboygan; and also at the theater's box office 45 minutes before each performance.

For more information, call (920) 459-3779.

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Sheboygan Theatre Company presents 'Little Women: The Musical'

The Sheboygan Theatre Company will be spotlighting the importance of family and following dreams in difficult times when it presents 'Little Women: The Musical,' based on Louisa May Alcott's classic

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